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'It's the biggest match of the year' - Federer and Nadal renew Wimbledon rivalry

Published in Tennis

Thursday, 11 July 2019 11:42

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal renew their exalted rivalry on Friday when they meet at Wimbledon for the first time since the epic 2008 final.

Swiss Federer, 37, and Spaniard Nadal, 33, play their tantalising semi-final second on Centre Court.

They meet after top seed and reigning champion Novak Djokovic plays Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut at 13:00 BST.

Federer is aiming for his 21st Grand Slam title, while Nadal (18) and Djokovic (15) look to close the gap.

Friday's highly-anticipated semi-final will be the:

"Often we see matches being overhyped but you can't overhype this one - and rightly so," three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker told BBC Sport.

"It is the biggest match of the year because you're talking about two greats of the game."

'Unique' and 'exciting' - Federer and Nadal on their rivalry

Federer: "Rafa has improved so much over the years on this surface. He's also playing very differently.

"I remember back in the day how he used to serve, and now how much bigger he's serving, how much faster he finishes points.

"We have a lot of information on Rafa, as does he on us. So you can dive into the tactics like mad, or you say 'it's grass-court tennis so I'm going to come out and play my tennis'.

"I'm excited to play him again."

Nadal: "Playing against Roger is always a unique situation. I'm excited to be back on Centre Court against him after 11 years. It means a lot for me and probably for him, too.

"The opportunities to play against each other are becoming less, but we still here.

"I'm not expecting to learn new things about him. I just expect to play against probably the best player in history on this surface.

"I know he's playing well. He feels comfortable here. I'm playing well, too.

"I am playing with a very high intensity, playing aggressive, serving well and returning very well.

"I know that I have to play my best."

'The one match that every tennis player alive will watch'

Played over almost seven hours because of rain delays and ending in virtual darkness in front of a mesmerised Centre Court, Federer and Nadal's last meeting at Wimbledon is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the sport.

Federer had spent 231 consecutive weeks as world number one and won his past 65 grass-court matches, yet Nadal toppled him to win his first Wimbledon title.

"I thought it was the best Wimbledon final of all time," Becker said.

"So we're very lucky to have this opportunity again on Friday.

"It's the one match that every tennis player alive will tune in for."

Roger's mobility is incredible - I don't know how he does it

Federer and Nadal have both looked on top of their grass-court games in serene paths through to the semi-finals.

Federer, who has spent an average of one hour and 52 minutes on court, has only dropped sets against quarter-final opponent Kei Nishikori and, more surprisingly, South African debutant Lloyd Harris in the opening round.

In between, the Swiss has swatted away young Briton Jay Clarke, French 27th seed Lucas Pouille and Italian 17th seed Matteo Berrettini with minimum fuss.

"I think it was a wise decision for him to play the clay [court season] because physically he is in good shape and it has put him in a position to win the Championship," Becker, who also coached Djokovic to Wimbledon glory in 2014 and 2015, said.

"What has impressed me most about Roger's game is his mobility, he is still able to get to every ball on the court.

"Technically he has always been the finest, but his physical level is still incredible and it is unbelievable at his age. I don't know how he does it."

Nadal's passage has been even smoother, having lost just one set in a second-round battle against controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios, on his way to a second successive SW19 semi-final.

As Federer points out, Nadal's remodelled serve has paid dividends for the Majorcan, who has won 83% of first serve points at the All England Club.

"I think it is the best grass-court tournament Rafa has played, even though he has won two titles here," Becker added.

"The way he plays has improved a lot, particularly the serve. He's gone through his matches easily against difficult players like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Sam Querrey, and that's because of his level.

"If Rafa wins the French Open it is a good year, if he wins another Slam as well it is a great year."

Race to be the Goat continues

The battle to be the man with more Grand Slam titles than any other provides an added element of intrigue to the match between Federer and Nadal.

A third Wimbledon triumph for the Spaniard, who won the 2008 and 2010 titles, would move him just one behind the Swiss, having never been so close to his tally.

Federer, who is aiming for a record-extending ninth men's singles title at Wimbledon, was nine majors clear of Nadal at the end of 2007 - when he was 26 and had already won 12 of his 20 majors.

Nadal closed that gap to just two with his 12th French Open title last month, while 32-year-old Djokovic is hot on their heels despite only winning his first major in 2008 and only adding a second three years later.

The rivalry in numbers

11 - Successive Grand Slam titles won between them, stretching from the 2005 French Open to the 2007 US Open

12 - Finals reached by Nadal at Roland Garros - a record which Federer is trying to match at Wimbledon

65 - Consecutive grass-court wins for Federer before Nadal ended that run in the 2008 Wimbledon final

70 - The combined age of 37-year-old Federer, who turns 38 next month, and 33-year-old Nadal

100 - Matches won by Federer at Wimbledon, the first man to reach a century at a single Grand Slam

211 - Consecutive weeks sharing the top two spots in the world rankings between July 2005 to August 2009

234,308,576 - Combined career prize money (US dollars)

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Russia avenges early defeat, secures team title

Published in Table Tennis

Thursday, 11 July 2019 14:25

Just as in the earlier meeting Yu Khinhang beat both Maksim Grebnev (11-6, 11-9, 11-8) and Vladimir Sidorenko (5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8) but that was to prove the only success for Azerbaijan. Wang Chenxi was beaten in the third match of the fixture by Lev Katsman (12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6), Yang Xinyu lost to Vladmir Sidorenko in the opening match of the engagement and, in the vital concluding contest, to Maksim Grebnev (12-10, 12-10, 11-6).

Gold for Russia but in the counterpart junior girls’ team competition it was silver despite the efforts of Maria Tailakova. Facing Germany in the title deciding contest, she accounted for Anastasia Bondareva (11-3, 14-12, 11-5) and Franziska Schreiner (11-5, 11-9, 11-7) but those were her team’s only successes. Anastasia Kolish lost to both Franziska Schreiner (11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-8) and Anastasia Bondareva (12-14, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-7); in the third match of the fixture Elizabet Abraamian experienced defeat at the hands of Sophia Klee (4-11, 4-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10).

One day earlier, with no changes to team selection. In the junior boys’ event, Azerbaijan had beaten Belgium, represented by Adrien Rassenfosse, Olav Kosolosky and Nicolas Degros; Russia had ousted the German trio comprising Dominik Jonack, Kay Stumper and Felix Wetzel.

Both fixtures had been resulted in 3-1 victory margins. Backbone of the Azerbaijan had been Yu Khinhang, he accounted for both Olav Kosolosky (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6) and Adrien Rassenfosse (11-3, 11-8, 11-4); for Russia, the man of the moment was Vladimir Sidorenko. He beat both Dominik Jonack (11-2, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7) and Felix Wetzel (11-6, 11-7, 11-7).

Similarly in the semi-final round of the junior girls’ team event, 3-1 was the favourite score-line. The same three players on duty as in the final, Russia overcame the Czech Republic’s Linda Zaderova, Zdena Blaskova and Klara Hrabicova; star of the show, as in the final, being Mariia Tailakova; she accounted for Linda Zaderova (11-9, 11-6, 11-5) and Zdena Blaskova (11-6, 10-12, 11-6, 11-4).

Meanwhile, Germany overcame the French trio of Camille Lutz, Isa Cok and Marie Chapet to book their place in the final. The player to impress was Franziska Schreiner, she overcame both Camille Lutz (5-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7) and Isa Cok (12-10, 11-9, 11-7).

Success for Maksim Grebnev, Lev Katsman and Vladimir Sidorenko in junior boys’ team event, there was also success for colleagues Vladislav Makarov, Denis Izumdrunov and Sergey Ryzhov in the counterpart cadet boys’ team competition. At the final hurdle, they recorded a 3-2 win against Romania’s Eduard Ionescu, Darius Movileanu and Andrei Tomica. France represented by Felix Lebrun, Thibaut Poret and Alexis Kouraichi alongside Germany’s Felix Kohler and Mike Hollo finished the respective bronze medallists.

Gold for Russia, in the cadet girls’ team event it was silver; Alina Zavarykina and Vlada Vornina experienced a 3-1 defeat in the final when facing the French partnership formed by Prithika Pavade and Charlotte Lutz. Romania’s Ioanna Singeorzan and Elena Zaharia in addition to the German trio formed by Annett Kaufmann, Naomi Pranjkovic and Jele Stortz concluded play, the bronze medallists.

Proceedings continue with the individual events, play concludes in Ostrava on Tuesday 16th July.

Stag 2019 European Youth Championships: Schedule of Play, Results

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Geelong Preview day two: world number one set to fall

Published in Table Tennis

Thursday, 11 July 2019 14:41

Moreover, one player, who has occupied the top spot on the world rankings, is destined to depart.

In the second round of the men’s singles event China’s Ma Long faces Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov; history does not bode well for Dimitrij Ovtcharov, Ma Long has won all 14 meetings in world ranking events but there is always a first time and last week in Busan, Ma Long was below his best.

Equally, Fan Zhendong has not been firing on all cylinders, likewise in round two he faces German opposition; the top seed, he confronts Patrick Franziska.

A quarter-final place for Europe; there is more than one option. Sweden’s Mattias Falck opposes Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin, Portugal’s Marcos Freitas confronts Brazil’s Hugo Calderano. Similarly, England’s Liam Pitchford meets China’s Wang Chuqin, Denmark’s Jonathan Groth, presently in a rich vein of form, confronts Liang Jingkun.

No doubt Liang Jingkun starts the favourite as do his colleagues in their second round men’s singles clashes. Lin Gaoyuan opposes Korea Republic’s Lee Sangsu; Xu Xin confronts Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yun-Ju. Notably Xu Xin beat Lin Yun-Ju last month in the final in Sapporo; can Lin Yun-Ju reverse the decision? Unquestionably he possesses the talent.

Testing challenges for formidable Chinese names; in the women’s singles event, of the nation’s elite, does Chen Meng, the top seed, not face the sternest challenge of all? She opposes colleague, Mu Zi, semi-finalist at the Qoros 2015 World Championships.

Rather differently for Ding Ning and Sun Yingsha, they start as clear favourites in their second round women’s singles contests. Ding Ning plays Korea Republic’s Choi Hyojoo, Sung Yingsha confronts Japan’s Shiho Matsudaira. Equally, whatever world rankings may read, do colleagues Li Jiayi, Sun Mingyang and the pen-holder Zhang Qiang start as favourites?

Like Ding Ning both Li Jiayi and Zhang Qiang face tough Korea Republic opponents but they appear to be in form; Li Jiayi faces Jeon Jihee, Zhang Qiang confronts Suh Hyowon. Rather differently, Sun Mingyang opposes Austria’s Yui Hamamoto.

Places await China in the last eight; it is the same for Japan; in the second round of the women’s singles event, Kasumi Ishikawa meets Hitomi Sato, Mima Ito faces Miu Hirano.

Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles event, it is difficult to look beyond Fan Zhendong and Xu Xin, the 2017 World champions; they face Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit and Wong Chun Ting in the quarter-finals. The winner of the contest opposes the victor in the engagement between Lin Gaoyuan and Ma Long in opposition to Sweden’s Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson awaits.

Top seeds, Korea Republic’s Jeoung Youngsik and Lee Sangsu meet Germany’s Patrick Franziska and Ricardo Walther; success and colleagues Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon could be the semi-final opponents. They oppose India’s Amalraj Anthony and Sathyan Gnanasekaran for a place in the penultimate round.

Equally, in the women’s doubles, Chen Meng and Wang Manyu, the top seeds, are favourites for a place in the final. In the quarter-final round they meet Miu Hirano and Saki Shibata; success and a further Japanese pair could await in the semi-final, in the round of the last eight Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki face Australia’s Jee Minhyung and Jian Fang.

China in contention; in the opposite half of the draw eyes focus on Korea Republic. Jeon Jihee and Yang Haeun oppose Singapore’s Lin Ye and Yu Mengyu, Choi Hyojoo and Lee Eunhye face the European combination of Romania’s Bernadette Szocs and Spain’s Maria Xiao.

Likewise, in the mixed doubles, the Korea Republic is in focus. Lee Sangsu and Jeon Jihee play Slovakia’s Lubomir Pistej and Barbora Balazova; the winners confronting the successful pair in the all Hong Kong duel. In the same half of the draw Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem meet Ho Kwan Kit and Lee Ho Ching.

Winners last week in Busan, Wong Chun Ting and Doo Hoi Kem form a combination of note, as in the opposite half of the draw does that of Chinese Lin-Yun and Cheng I-Ching, the leaders on the Standings who could well renew acquaintances. Last week in Busan they were beaten in the opening round by Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito; in Geelong they could meet in the semi-finals.

At the quarter-final stage Lin Yun-Ju and Cheng I-Ching meet the French partnership formed by Tristan Flore and Laura Gasnier, Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito oppose Australia’s Heming Hu and Melissa Tapper.

A full day ahead, it is not to be missed.

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No. 22 NXS Team Penalized, Crew Chief Ejected

Published in Racing

Thursday, 11 July 2019 12:34

SPARTA, Ky. – The No. 22 Team Penske Xfinity Series team was issued an L1-level penalty Thursday at Kentucky Speedway for an illegal body modification to its car.

Crew chief Brian Wilson was escorted from the garage as a result.

NASCAR officials discovered the modification during inspection and issued the penalty before Xfinity Series cars took the track at the 1.5-mile speedway.

The L1 penalty comes with a loss of 10 points for driver Austin Cindric and team owner Roger Penske, along with a one-race suspension to Wilson — which he will serve at this race.

The team also was fined $10,000.

Cindric entered the Kentucky event fourth in the standings with six top fives and 13 top 10s on the season. The points penalty keeps him in fourth but pushes him 129 points back of series leader Tyler Reddick.

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Briscoe Back To Defend Eldora Truck Victory

Published in Racing

Thursday, 11 July 2019 12:34

SPARTA, Ky. – After a one-off deal with ThorSport Racing last year at Eldora Speedway resulted in a victory in NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series competition, Chase Briscoe is back for more.

Briscoe, joined by ThorSport Racing Team Manager David Peppers, confirmed in a press event Thursday at Kentucky Speedway that he’ll be back to defend his victory in the Eldora Dirt Derby aboard the No. 27 Ford F-150 DiaEdge Ford.

“Super exciting for me to go back to Eldora to try and win two in a row,” said Briscoe. “Nobody’s been able to do that, so it’s certainly something I’d love to do. It’s the only dirt race that we get to go back and race that has dirt on it. There’s a lot of pride in being the guy to win that race. Eldora’s dirt racing is what Daytona is for pavement racing. It’s the pinnacle. If you win at Eldora, it’s like winning at Daytona.”

The Sandusky, Ohio-based Thorsport Racing will field the same Ford F-150 truck and crew in an effort to get Briscoe his third career Truck Series victory. Bud Haefele, the team’s current shop foreman, will be Briscoe’s crew chief.

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Ben Rhodes Looking For A Kentucky Repeat

Published in Racing

Thursday, 11 July 2019 13:35

SPARTA, Ky – ThorSport Racing driver Ben Rhodes comes into Thursday’s Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway as the defending race winner.

Rhodes’ No. 99 Carolina Nut Ford has been plagued with tough times throughout the current campaign. When it looks like a great run is coming, something unexpected happens.

With Kentucky Speedway considered his home track, Rhodes thinks there isn’t a better time to be home.

“I like the challenge the truck series presents, and I think we do a good job with it,” said Rhodes. “It can be frustrating, but it can also be fun and rewarding when you outrun the other guys. I feel good about the Kentucky race, I do, I got the confidence, my team does a good job. Typically, our best races are on half-mile tracks. And for bad things to happen, it is really going to set us back in points.

“If we just don’t have any issues tonight, on pit road, get caught up in someone else’s messes, we should have a really good night. We should get into the top five, top-10. Usually if we are not in top five or top-10, we are caught up in a mess.”

One year ago, Louisville, Ky., native Rhodes scored his second NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory in front of his home crowd. A late gamble in the pits on a fuel-only stop gave him the track position he needed to lead the final 24 laps and hold off Stewart Friesen for the win.

“When I got the win here last year everyone was overflowing with emotion,” said Rhodes. “They were all happy, but I was angry. I was happy, but angry at the same time because it took so long for me to get the win. Kentucky is a special place; it holds a special place in my heart. Certainly, the last win is the most special, but Kentucky just holds a special place in my heart. I saw my first NASCAR Cup race here and pass the place every time I go up to the ThorSport shop.”

So far in 2019, the 22-year-old ThorSport Racing driver has finished runner-up three times at Martinsville, Kansas and Iowa. He’s had two additional top-five performances and eight top-10 finishes in the 12 races run.

He now sits fifth in points and currently would be the final driver in the Playoffs on points if Ross Chastain is able to work his way into the top-20 in points.

A win Thursday would make Rhodes’ odds of making the Playoffs much easier.

“The stage has been set at this race for us here at Kentucky,” Rhodes said. “We have been leading multiple times this year and something happen. Whether it be mechanical, pit road, or something else, we have just been set back. I been coming here for a very, very long time, I have so many memories of this place when I raced Bandoleros and Legends. I hope to make another memory tonight. Kentucky is special, it holds a place other tracks don’t.”

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Enfinger Rockets To Kentucky Truck Pole

Published in Racing

Thursday, 11 July 2019 14:15

SPARTA, Ky. – Grant Enfinger earned his second pole of the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season during qualifying on Thursday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway.

Enfinger toured the unique 1.5-mile oval in 29.678 seconds (181.953 mph) with his No. 98 Champion Power Equipment Ford F-150 to earn the top starting spot ahead of the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225.

The pole is the fifth of Enfinger’s Truck Series career. He’s seeking his first win of the season.

Joining Enfinger on the front row will be rookie Sheldon Creed, who qualified a career-best second with a lap of 29.706 seconds (181.781 mph) in the No. 2 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet Silverado.

Todd Gilliland completed the top three (29.721/181.690) in the No. 4 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports, with Enfinger’s teammate Matt Crafton and two-time winner Ross Chastain following.

Harrison Burton was sixth, ahead of defending series champion Brett Moffitt, defending race winner Ben Rhodes, Tyler Ankrum and Brennan Poole.

Johnny Sauter, the 2016 Truck Series titlist, starts 11th. Daytona winner Austin Hill rolls off 22nd.

Stewart Friesen starts last in a backup truck after his primary truck was confiscated by NASCAR during initial inspection earlier in the day. Consequently, he posted the slowest qualifying time.

With 34 drivers on hand for 32 starting spots, Norm Benning and Ray Ciccarelli missed the field.

STARTING LINEUP: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series; Kentucky Speedway; July 11, 2019

Grant Enfinger
Sheldon Creed
Todd Gilliland
Matt Crafton
Ross Chastain
Harrison Burton
Brett Moffitt
Ben Rhodes
Tyler Ankrum
Brennan Poole
Johnny Sauter
Chad Finley
Gus Dean
Tyler Dippel
Jordan Anderson
Austin Wayne Self
Natalie Decker
Joe Nemechek
Codie Rohrbaugh
Dylan Lupton
Spencer Davis
Austin Hill
Mason Massey
Clay Greenfield
Spencer Boyd
Tyler Hill
Brandon Jones
Jeb Burton
Camden Murphy
Josh Bilicki
Jennifer Jo Cobb
Stewart Friesen

DNQ: Ray Ciccarelli, Norm Benning

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USAC Cancels Chad McDaniel Memorial

Published in Racing

Thursday, 11 July 2019 14:43

CONCORDIA, Kan. – Thursday’s Chad McDaniel Memorial, round two of Mid-America Midget Week from the Concordia High Banks, has been canceled.

A combination of wet grounds from previous precipitation that have created parking difficulties, plus track safety concerns, have forced cancellation of the event.

The race was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed by wet weather.

“Mid-America Midget Week continues for two-straight nights at Nebraska’s Jefferson County Speedway on Friday-Saturday, July 12-13 for the Midwest Midget Championship. The mini-series concludes this Sunday at Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex in Sweet Springs, Mo.

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Stars re-sign center Dickinson to 2-year deal

Published in Hockey

Thursday, 11 July 2019 13:53

FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Stars have re-signed center Jason Dickinson to a $3 million, two-year contract, bringing back an emerging leader after he established career highs in scoring and playing time.

Dickinson was a solid playoff performer in his postseason debut as the Stars reached the second round before losing a Game 7 to eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis. He had five points (three goals, two assists) in 13 games.

The 24-year-old Dickinson had career highs in goals (six), assists (16) and points (22), while averaging the most minutes in his four seasons (13). He hadn't played more than 27 regular-season games before getting into 67 in 2018-19.

A first-round pick in 2013, Dickinson has nine goals and 18 assists in 105 career games.

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Facts and figures for the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush

Published in Golf

Thursday, 11 July 2019 07:03

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Facts and figures for the British Open golf championship:

Event: 148th Open Championship

Dates: July 18-21

Site: Royal Portrush

Length: 7,344

Par: 71

The course: The club dates to a nine-hole course in 1888, expanding to 18 holes a year later. Harry Colt designed the Dunluce Links in 1929. Royal Portrush in 1951 hosted the only British Open not held in Scotland or England. To allow for the size of the championship, two holes from the Valley Links were used to create a new seventh and eighth holes on the Dunluce Links, while the previous 17th and 18th holes are now the site of the tented village.

Field: 156 players

Playoff (if necessary): 3 holes, aggregate score

Prize money: $10.75 million

Winner's share: $1,935,000

Defending champion: Francesco Molinari

Last year: Francesco Molinari became the first Italian to win a major when he closed with a 2-under 69, playing the final 37 holes without a bogey at Carnoustie. A birdie on the final hole gave him a two-shot victory. Tiger Woods briefly had the lead on Sunday. Jordan Spieth had a share of the 54-hole lead and didn't make a birdie in the final round. Seven players had a share of the lead at some point Sunday, and six were still tied on the back nine.

Last time at Royal Portrush: Max Faulkner built a six-shot lead through 54 holes and held on with a 74 for a two-shot victory over Antonio Cerda in the only British Open not held in Scotland or England.

Tiger Tales: Tiger Woods has played only three tournaments (two majors) and 10 rounds since he won the Masters.

Key statistic: Americans have a chance to sweep the majors for the first time since 1982.

Noteworthy: Support for a return to Royal Portrush began earlier in the decade when three players from Northern Ireland - Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke - won three of six majors.

Quoteworthy: "It's hard to argue that this will be the finest piece of links land which The Open Championship is played. No other venue, I don't think, has such pure links undulations throughout its 18 holes." - European golf architect Martin Ebert

Television (all times EDT): Thursday-Friday, 1:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 5-7 a.m. (Golf Channel), 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 4-7 a.m. (Golf Channel), 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (NBC)

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